Rachel Jones is the interim Head of Transport Policy at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA), until autumn 2023. Rachel has been at WYCA since January 2016, and her substantive role is Lead of the Transport Projects team. She has worked in transport for almost 10 years.
In her interim role, Rachel is responsible for leading and managing the Transport Policy service area, including bus, rail, active travel and decarbonisation of the transport sector in West Yorkshire. A key responsibility is the development of a new West Yorkshire Mayors Local Transport Plan (LTP4). This is a statutory requirement, which involves working with key stakeholders, partners and engaging with the public to develop a plan that will deliver a fair and inclusive decarbonised transport sector. It will create space for walking, cycling, wheeling and bus, deliver bus reform and a mass transit system for West Yorkshire.
Also, delivery of the West Yorkshire Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) over the next three years is a key priority for her. BSIP aims to deliver an enhanced, fully inclusive and more cohesive bus network, through revenue investment in the network and fares, alongside capital bus priority infrastructure schemes.
Engaging with the rail industry on emerging policy and priorities, both in West Yorkshire and also nationally, is a high priority that forms part of the service area responsibilities and is a key element of the LTP4.
Transport Policy is also, amongst other things, responsibly for bidding for funding on behalf of WYCA, including funds to deliver active travel and EV infrastructure.
In her permanent role, Rachel manages a large team of project managers, responsible for managing the direct delivery of public transport infrastructure schemes, on behalf of WYCA. This includes investment in new rail stations, improved parking availability at rail station, and delivery of new and improved bus stations.